East Sussex · England
Live paella catering in Houghton Green, East Sussex
Treat your guests to live paella at your event in Houghton Green. We cook from scratch on site, and serve it straight from the pan.
- Engagement and anniversary parties
- Office lunches and staff parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
Paella catering for Houghton Green events
Step by step
We cook over gas burners in wide, shallow pans. We need a level, ventilated spot, and we agree where that is before the day. Around midsummer it stays light in Houghton Green until about 9:15pm; by late September sunset is nearer 7:00pm, so summer evening service is normally in daylight. In December it’s dark by about 3:50pm, so winter events need lighting where we cook.
- It starts with your date, venue, numbers and any dietary needs.
- We suggest a menu and confirm a quote, including what’s included.
- We arrive early, set up the cooking area and start the stock.
- The paella cooks in front of your guests, with tapas first if you’ve chosen them.
- We serve from the pan, then clear our cooking area away.
Getting ready for the day
- Plan cover in case of rain
- Confirm the venue is happy with live cooking
- Let us know who to talk to on the day
Getting a price
The quickest way to a quote is to fill in our quote form. Tell us about your event in Houghton Green, and we’ll suggest paellas and extras to suit.
Planning help
Paella catering in Houghton Green, cooked live
Watching it cook is part of the experience. People drift over as the sofrito sizzles and the rice turns gold, and the aroma does the rest. Whether it is community events and fairs and weddings, from canapés to evening food, we can cook vegetable paella, vegan paella and paella Valenciana for your guests.
In a rural place like Houghton Green, the setting does a lot of the work: a huge pan in a garden or field fits perfectly. Let us know about access and ground conditions. Everything is cooked from scratch at your event, never made in advance and reheated.
- Area
- Houghton Green (TN31)
- County
- East Sussex
- Dietary options
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, halal
- Extras
- Canapés, desserts, sangria and staff
- Quotes
- Contact us for a quote
- Page updated
- 23 October 2026
What’s in the pans
Mixed paella
Paella mixta combines meat and seafood in one pan, and it is frequently the first pan to empty.
Paella Valenciana
Paella Valenciana is the original: chicken, beans and saffron, not seafood. It is a favourite with guests who do not eat fish.
Is live paella right for your event?
A cold buffet is simple but has no theatre, and food can sit out for a while. Paella is cooked live and served hot. The price depends on your guest numbers, the menu and how many courses you choose, plus any staff, crockery and travel. We quote for each event individually.
Why book with us
- Crockery and waiting staff if you need them
- A quote that spells everything out
- Food that becomes part of the entertainment
- Fast service from the pan
Read Our prices page And The cost guide.
How we price paella catering
Two events with the same number of guests can cost different amounts, depending on:
- How many courses
- Travel, parking and access
- Whether you need crockery
- Waiting and bar staff
Seafood and premium ingredients cost more than chicken or vegetable paellas, so the menu you choose affects the price. Tell us your budget and we will suggest a menu.
Getting an accurate quote
When you contact us, it helps to tell us:
- Any dietary needs and allergies
- What the venue already provides
- The courses you’d like
- A picture of the cooking space, if it is a garden or field
A detailed enquiry gets a more accurate quote: the venue, the timings, the courses you’d like and any extras. When you’re ready, send us your details through our quote form.
Organising for someone else?
If you’re organising for someone else, whether you are a planner, an office manager or an event organiser, we’re happy to deal with you and the venue directly. It keeps things simple.
Hosting a party at home? Send a picture of the space and tell us about parking, and we’ll tell you honestly whether live paella will work.
Towns and villages near Houghton Green
More for events in Houghton Green
Perfect for your event in Houghton Green
It is ideal for relaxed, sociable occasions, with guests mingling as it cooks before sitting down to eat.
Live paella suits almost any gathering. In Houghton Green, people book us for events such as:
- Summer garden parties
- Festivals, fairs and school events
- Naming days and family parties
- Retirement and leaving parties
If you’re organising a summer fair for a school like St Michael's Church of England Primary School, a paella stall is a crowd-pleaser.
What your quote should include
- A clear list of what’s included
- Plates, cutlery and napkins, or disposables
- Whether travel is included
- How many staff are coming, and for how long
Cook it yourself or book a caterer?
Weighing up DIY against a caterer? Consider your numbers, your guests’ diets and your own time. Ask us for a quote and compare.
Cooking paella for a crowd yourself is possible, but it is harder than it looks. A big pan needs a burner that heats it evenly, and getting the rice right for dozens of people takes experience. Read how to cook paella for a crowd.
Paella catering around Houghton Green
Houghton Green is about 11 miles north-east of Hastings, in East Sussex. We cook at events in gardens, halls and venues around Houghton Green. Houghton Green is one of 289 places in East Sussex we cover. We cook right across the region, from Houghton Green to Canterbury (about 26 miles away).
For a christening or wedding at a church such as The Parish Church of St Michael, a paella lunch or reception nearby is an easy way to feed everyone. For guests coming by train, the nearest station is Rye station, about 1.3 miles south-west. The coast is within about 2 miles of Houghton Green, and seafood paella always feels right near the sea. Coastal wind means we plan a sheltered spot.
For paella catering in TN31, we plan around your venue and timings. Nearby, we also cater events in Playden (1 mile south-west), East Guldeford (1 mile south-east), Iden (1 mile north-west), Rye (1 mile south) and Rye Foreign (2 miles west). Further out, we also cater in Hastings (11 miles south-west), Bexhill-on-Sea (15 miles south-west), St Leonards (11 miles south-west), Hastings Old Town (10 miles south-west), Belmont (10 miles south-west) and Hollington (11 miles south-west).
Nearby you will also find Rye Castle Museum (East Street) (1.4 miles south) and Ypres Tower (1.5 miles south). The countryside around Houghton Green includes Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
- Nearby schools include Rye College (1.2 miles south-west)
- Local pubs include Kings Head Inn (0.8 miles south-west)
What we need at the venue
We will agree the cooking spot with you before the day. A good spot ticks these boxes:
- Clearance from fences, hedges, branches and anything flammable
- Good ventilation: outdoors, or an open-sided cover
- Access for unloading near the cooking spot
Not sure about your space? Send us a picture and we’ll tell you honestly before booking.
On the menu in Houghton Green
- Seafood paella
- Mixed paella
- Vegetable paella
- Vegan paella
- Black rice (arroz negro)
- Paella Valenciana
- Chicken & chorizo paella
Questions from Houghton Green
What about events near the coast?
Yes, with a sheltered cooking spot. Wind is the main issue on the coast, so we plan shelter.
We’re having a ceremony at The Parish Church of St Michael: can you cater afterwards?
Yes, at a nearby garden, marquee or hall where we can cook. Churches rarely have space for live cooking, so the meal is usually elsewhere. Send us the reception address.
What is live paella catering?
We bring everything needed to cook on site, cook while everyone watches, and serve at the time you want.
Do you cater for coeliacs?
We can cook a gluten-free paella in its own pan. Tell us about any coeliac guests when you book so we can plan it carefully.
Where do you cater?
We cater across London and the South East, including East Sussex. Find your area.
Can you cook halal paella?
Yes, we do. Halal paella is cooked with halal chicken and no pork or alcohol, in its own pan.
How much is live paella catering?
We quote for each event, so you only pay for what you need. Give us your date, numbers and menu ideas for a clear quote.
Do you cook inside?
Generally we cook outdoors or under a ventilated cover, since the burners are gas. Some venues have suitable spaces; we’ll check with you and the venue.
- Cooked live in giant pans at your event
- Vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and halal options
- Paella, tapas, canapés and desserts
- Sangria, bar staff, crockery and waiting staff